Can I Bring Gambling Winnings to the UAE? The Dh60,000 Customs Declaration Rule

Last updated: 11 November 2026

Yes, you can bring gambling winnings into the UAE, but if the cash, cheques or other bearer instruments you carry are worth more than Dh60,000 in total, you must declare them to customs when you land. The Central Bank's rulebook puts it plainly: "It is not illegal to move cash into or out of the UAE." The obligation is to declare, not to leave the money behind. This guide covers what counts towards the threshold, how to declare, and the paperwork that saves you trouble at a bank or exchange house afterwards.

Key takeaways

• Travellers entering or leaving the UAE must declare cash, bearer negotiable instruments, precious metals or precious stones worth more than Dh60,000, or the equivalent in other currencies.
• The rule comes from Article 8 of Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 on anti-money laundering and a Central Bank regulation published in Official Gazette No. 703 on 31 May 2021.
• Declarations go to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), online at declare.customs.ae or through the Afseh app.
• Money carried by children under 18 is added to the limit of the parent or guardian travelling with them.
• A customs declaration is not proof of where money came from. Keep the casino's payout records separately.

Can I bring gambling winnings to the UAE legally?

Yes. Nothing in the UAE's cross-border cash rules asks you to leave winnings at the border, and the Central Bank's guidance to banks states that moving cash into or out of the country is not illegal. What the law requires is transparency. Under Article 8 of Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018, anyone entering or leaving the country "must declare the currencies or bearer negotiable financial instruments, precious metals or stones of value, in accordance with the declaration regulation issued by the Central Bank".

That regulation sets the bar at Dh60,000. Below it, there is nothing to declare. Above it, you declare the full amount.

One distinction matters here. The UAE criminalises gambling itself: Article 461 of the Crimes and Penalties Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) punishes "whoever gambles" with up to two years' incarceration or a fine of up to Dh50,000. The customs rules, by contrast, are about declaring value, not about where it came from. We have found no official guidance that treats money won lawfully at a casino abroad as a customs offence in itself, and we are not lawyers. Our guide to whether gambling is legal in the UAE and our walk-through of Penal Code Articles 460 to 463 cover the domestic law in full.

What exactly counts towards the Dh60,000 threshold?

The Central Bank's table lists four categories, each with the same Dh60,000 threshold "or equivalent in any other currencies":

Category — What it includes — Declare above

• Currencies — Dirhams or any foreign banknotes — Dh60,000
• Bearer negotiable instruments — Traveller's cheques, promissory cheques, payment orders and similar bearer documents — Dh60,000
• Precious metals — High-value metals in any form, if not for commercial purposes — Dh60,000
• Precious stones — High-value stones in any form, if not for commercial purposes — Dh60,000

For a casino winner, the first two rows matter most. A stack of US dollar or euro notes counts as currency. A casino cheque made out to "bearer" would fall under bearer negotiable instruments; a cheque payable to you by name is not described as one in the regulation, so check with customs if you are unsure. Converting winnings into gold or jewellery does not take them outside the rules either: precious metals and stones have their own Dh60,000 line.

The UAE government portal u.ae adds a practical point for families. "For passengers under the age of 18, the amount in their possession will be added to the permitted limit" of the parent, guardian or adult accompanying them. Splitting a large sum between your children's bags does not reduce what you have to declare.

How do I declare cash at a UAE airport?

The declaration goes to the ICP. According to u.ae, last updated 27 October 2026, there are two routes:

1. Online, through the ICP's declaration website, declare.customs.ae.
2. On your phone, through the Afseh app, available on Google Play and the App Store.

Abu Dhabi's TAMM portal also lists a "Cash disclosure" service. Whichever route you use, the regulation requires you to "provide an honest and clear answer and adequate information to the Customs authority and its staff upon request". Have your casino paperwork to hand in case an officer asks for it.

The same rule applies on the way out. If you are flying to a casino destination with more than Dh60,000 in cash, you declare it when you leave, and then declare whatever you bring back on your return.

What happens if I don't declare?

The official u.ae page does not list penalties, and we did not find a published penalty schedule on an official site, so we will not quote one. Gulf Today reported in February 2023 that the ICP warned non-compliance can lead to a customs fine. Beyond that, the context matters: the Central Bank's guidance describes the physical carrying of cash across borders, quoting the Financial Action Task Force, as "one of the oldest and most basic forms of money laundering". Undeclared cash over the limit looks exactly like the thing the rule exists to catch. Declaring costs you a few minutes.

Why should I keep the casino's payout receipt?

Because the customs form will not answer the question your bank or exchange house is likely to ask next.

The Central Bank's standards for exchange houses tell them to collect and keep the original customs declaration form when a customer exchanges currency declared on it. But the same standards say the form "must not be treated as evidence for the source of funds or the purpose of a transaction", and that supporting documents for the source of funds "must be collected whenever and wherever necessary". The Central Bank's guidance to banks says the same in broader terms: as part of due diligence, they "may require additional information on the customer or the transaction, including the source of funds and relevant documentation".

So the declaration proves you were honest at the border. It does not prove the money is clean. For that, the useful records are the ones the casino gives you: the cash-out or jackpot receipt, any tax form issued at the cage, and your flight and hotel booking showing you were there. If you won in the United States, the casino may withhold tax and issue paperwork; our separate guide to tax on gambling winnings abroad covers that side.

Is a bank transfer simpler than carrying cash?

For large sums, usually yes. A transfer from the casino or from an account in the country where you won leaves a documented trail from the start, and you avoid carrying a bag of banknotes through two airports. Your UAE bank may still ask about the source of a large incoming payment, under the same due-diligence rules described above, so the casino's records remain useful.

Carrying cash is lawful if you declare it. A transfer simply front-loads the paperwork. Ask the casino before you cash out which payment methods it offers for larger amounts.

A note on gambling itself

Big wins are rare and losses are the norm. If a trip abroad is turning into a pattern, or you are chasing losses, our guide to responsible gambling help in the UAE lists confidential support options. For residents weighing a casino trip, our overview of the nearest casinos to Dubai explains what is lawful where, and why no casino is open in the UAE yet.

This article is general information based on official UAE sources as of November 2026. It is not legal or tax advice; if you are carrying a large sum, check with the ICP or a qualified adviser before you travel.

FAQ

How much cash can I bring into the UAE without declaring it? Up to Dh60,000, or the equivalent in other currencies. Anything above that, including cash, bearer instruments, precious metals and precious stones, must be declared to the ICP.

Do I have to declare casino winnings specifically? You declare the value you carry, not its origin. If your winnings plus any other cash or bearer instruments exceed Dh60,000, you declare the total.

Can my children carry part of the money? It will not help. Amounts carried by anyone under 18 are added to the limit of the parent or guardian travelling with them.

Where do I submit the declaration? Online at declare.customs.ae or through the ICP's Afseh app. Abu Dhabi's TAMM portal also lists a cash disclosure service.

Is the customs form enough for my bank? Not necessarily. Central Bank standards say a customs declaration is not evidence of the source of funds, so banks and exchange houses may ask for further documents, such as the casino's payout receipt.

Do I need to declare when leaving the UAE as well? Yes. The rule covers travellers entering or leaving the country with more than Dh60,000.

Further reading

• Is gambling legal in the UAE?
• UAE Penal Code Articles 460 to 463 explained
• Can tourists gamble in the UAE?
• Nearest casino to Dubai
• Responsible gambling help in the UAE

Sources

• UAE Government portal (u.ae), "Customs clearance" (updated 27 October 2026): https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visiting-and-exploring-the-uae/Tourist-services-and-information/Customs-clearance
• Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook, "2.3.1.1 Cross-Border Movement of Cash and Cash Couriers" (effective 27 September 2021): https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/2311-cross-border-movement-cash-and-cash-couriers
• Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook, "16.21 Customs Declaration Forms (CDF)", Standards for Exchange Business: https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/1621-customs-declaration-forms-cdf
• UAE Legislation, "Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law": https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1529
• Gulf Today, "Possessions over Dhs60,000 must be declared by UAE travellers at all ports" (14 February 2023): https://gulftoday.ae/News/2023/02/14/Possessions-over-Dhs60000-must-be-declared-by-UAE-travellers-at-all-ports